Minji is an amazing success story for EC On-Campus at SUNY Fredonia.  She proved to herself and the rest of us that hard work can make anything possible.  Minji had 100% attendance for a 54 week booking in English for Academic Purposes (EAP)!  She wanted to learn English and be successful at university and that is exactly what she committed herself to do.  She scored low Elementary on her placement test in April 2015, and in August she will be a full university student at SUNY Fredonia. This past semester she was concurrently enrolled in 9 credit hours–she got straight As!  This didn’t surprise any of us, as she has consistently been at the top of her class. When asked about her EC Fredonia experience, Minji expressed that there was more to learning than just studying and coming to class. She shared her top 3 favorite activities: 1. Visiting the historic Opera House in downtown Fredonia 2. Seeing Niagara Falls 3. Hiking in Letchworth State Park   Congratulations Minji and we would wish you luck, but with work ethic like yours, who needs luck?!

Last week Gyuwon from South Korea graduated EC Fredonia at the Advanced level after 17 weeks in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) .  Next semester he will be a full University student at The State University of New York at Fredonia majoring in Computer Science.  According to all his teachers, Gyuwon was a model student with excellent grades and attendance, and they expect him to be very successful in the university. Here’s what Gyuwon had to say about EC Fredonia: “I’d like to suggest this school to a person who wants to live in a safe place in the USA and a person who really wants to focus on studying English.”     Thanks Gyuwon and very best of luck in university next semester; we truly enjoyed having you study with us!

Jacob Czelusta is the Assistant Director of International Student Services in the Campus Life Department at Fredonia. After teaching ESL abroad and working at a large university in Dallas, Texas, he decided to come to Fredonia. We asked him a few questions to see what he does on our campus: What are your main responsibilities? “Overall, I make sure students have a smooth transition from their home countries to Fredonia. I want them to feel as comfortable as possible. We hold activities and events such as field trips, educational workshops, and social events to get the students more involved. Recently, we went to Letchworth State Park and have been to Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh for past trips. I also make sure all Visa requirements are up to date and recorded.” How many students are in the international department at Fredonia and where are most of them from? “There are 131 students overall. 101 undergraduate students and 30 graduate students. Several of them are from South Korea, China, Japan, and Canada.” What are some different things you have done with the international students? “I have two interns, Hyun Hee Kim from South Korea and Koki Kimura from Japan. They plan about two events each month and are also in charge of the “Coffee Hour” that happens every week. This past month they planed an event called “Cultural Explosion”, it was like a talent show and six groups performed at the event, either singing, dancing, or cooking. Around 100 people came to event and it was quite the success; we plan on having it again next year. “Coffee Hour” is held each week and gives the students time to mingle and enjoy each other’s company. Student groups sometimes come to inform students about other activities they may be interested in. All students are welcome to come.” Are there any upcoming events happening? “On May 13th there will … Read more

What does it take to graduate EC On-Campus at Fredonia and become a full university student? 1. This may seem a bit abstract, but you really have to WANT it.  A can-do mindset will make all the following points possible.  Be mentally prepared to work hard and reach your goals! 2. Come to class!  Everyday.  We all have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning sometimes, but being physically and mentally present everyday in class is a must.  You can’t learn if you’re not here. 3. Practice, practice, practice.  Our EC classes will prepare you for university success, but to get the most out of your time here it is important to study outside of class too.  Learning is a process, and you can’t just shut it off after class is over.  A Hint: practice what interests you!  Love science?  Read articles and listen to TedTalks about space exploration or microbiology.  Love video games?  Read magazines and forums about your favorite games.  Make learning fun and relevant to YOU. 4. Be social!  Go to clubs and campus meeting, make American friends, and practice speaking English.  Don’t ever worry that your speaking isn’t good enough.  University students love learning about new people and cultures and won’t judge you just because you aren’t a native speaker.  Many of them also take foreign language classes, so they know how challenging and rewarding learning a language can be. This semester almost all of our graduates have matriculated to the university!  Are you ready to be next? English for Academic Purposes (EAP)